Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by Elizabeth Cedar: Anxiety or Sleep Apnea?
I suffer from anxiety disorder and am in the middle of controlling it. I usually get dizzy, nausea and short of breath (on a bad day). Lately I have been feeling pretty alright still with short of breath but not so bad. Sometimes when I’m trying to fall asleep I seem to gasp for air, I don’t know if I am actually gasping or just waking my self up. This doesn’t happen every night (that I notice). I live in a basement with one window and think that maybe it might also be becasue it can get stuffy down here. I’ve been keeping the window open a crack (too cold to leave it wide open) and I find it hasn’t happened.
My doctor has requested a test that I put on my finger at night to test my oxygen levels, still waiting for the hospital to call me to pick up the equippment.
Do you think it is anxiety, apnea, or the stuffiness??
I have taken St. John’s Wort, it helped for a bit but then felt like it was doing nothing, I stopped taking it.

Best answer:

Answer by Britt Chloe
i just read a statistic. people who have anxiety obviously worry a lot…why worry!?! 98% of the bad things you think will happen NEVER DO!!! funny huh!? relax eat right take a walk…help others. wake up in the morning and take the time to reflect on how you want to live your day and be happy!!!!

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Question by Keirra: Is it sleep apnea or just anxiety?
I was taking oxazepam for panic attacks, general anxiety disorder, and insomnia, but I ran out before I could go to the doctor to get some more. I still have 5 days to go before I can get some more. 3 or 4 days after running out (and hardly sleeping!) I began to get more and more panic attacks, then something else happened, when I lay down to go to bed I get short of breath, and I don’t know how else to put it besides I ‘forget to breath’. Right as I start to drift off I bolt up gasping for air.

I don’t quite think it’s sleep apnea because I have no problem staying asleep once I do fall asleep, I don’t have those symptoms when I try to sleep during the day (mostly), it seems to happen when I get over tired, and the shortness of breath is also there when I’m awake just doing every day things. The only thing that seems to help is distracting myself or trying to calm myself down.

Do you think it’s sleep apnea or just caused by withdrawal/anxiety? I don’t want to get tested for sleep apnea unless there’s actually a chance I might have it.

Best answer:

Answer by pooja m
http://helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm…

consult a specialist if ur problem is bothering u…BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

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Question by Miss J: Are there other medical conditions that create similar symptoms to those of depression and anxiety?
I am doing a little research. I have found a considerable amount of overlap in symptoms that are typically diagnosed as depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder. I have looked into Epstein-Bar Virus, PTSD, Anemia, ADHD, Thyroid, and Sleep Apnea. It is amazing how much the symptoms overlap. I’d like to know if there are other conditions that cause or mimic symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. I would be interested in doing further research.

Best answer:

Answer by sunnny
of course, psych illnesses should be the last to be considered after all other med tests done.
chronic diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity, but the docs can misdiagnose for years. I know, took them 4 years, 3 picc lines for pseudomonas and a DNA test to prove I have Cystic Fibrosis.
I fired the last idiot who pulled the “depression” needs cymbalta crap, got an MRI brain, shows meningioma. before the new medication, had stuttering, wt loss, forgetfulness, fatigue, muscle weakness, pains in joints/muscles, nausea, low K+, that is not depression, esp the onset and presentation and I knew it wasn’t CF. depression can be misdiagnosed by apathetic docs, pt has vague sx, abd pain, or other sx, labs don’t really show anything, but a disease in process, MS, lupus, ovarian cancers, neurological sx, plus all the wrong meds are Rx’d and the pt suffers until their illness is so bad it ’s too late. supposedly 2% of the pop has depression, but the way they’d have you think, everyone is depressed clinically. see www.effexor.com phases of depression,

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Question by ei_beachhouse: Depression and Anxiety- I have been married for 20 years and my wife has just?
filed for divorce. Actually, she told me in March 2008 that she could no longer take our life together and that if I didn’t do something about myself, our marriage would be over. In normal fashion for myself I felt threatened and acted as though she was to blame for the failure.

I suffer from severe sleep apnea plus a very stressful job which has been a recipe for disaster for many years. At her request saw a psycholgist who in my opinion had seen her better years and was totally unhelpul. After this failed relationship with the counselor, I gave up hope on the counseling and focused on getting my physical health better as the apnea had helped me gain 75 pounds last year and thus I was slippin deeper and deeper into depression.

In September my wife asked me to move out and I totally freaked out. I would call her 12 times a day and beg her to change her mind. She told me I had not done anything to get better mentally and I simply thought this was a huge game on her part. I became paranoid of another man etc. She stated she needed space to clear her thoughts as we have 2 children and she’s truly a great mother. I then consulted in a few friends that gave their uneducated opinion on women who need space and they all said “you’re done when women say this”. I never should have listened to this advice as I’ve later learned she was needing space to clear her head and I simply was freaking out thinking the world was ending. I’d call and yell at her then turn right around and tell her I love her. Obviouly irrational thinking. I cursed in front of my two beautiful children etc. and that was all she could take and she filed for divorce. Upon receiving the papers I wanted to commit suicide so I drove myself straight to the closest mental health hospital I could find.

I spent 7 days there and learned SO MUCH about myself. I learned I have been depressed for many years and that I had had a nervous breakdown and my actions over the past year could have been fixed with medication and therapy had I just taken the step faster.

I’m now seeing a therapist weekly and taking medication. My mind is clear and my mood swings are ending. I see totally why my wife just couldn’t live with me any longer as I wouldn’t want my children to have spouses like I had became.

My situation is this. Our marriage won’t go to the courts until April. My wife has agreed to sit down and talk to me. She is a terrific person but like myself and so many others, I don’t think she will understand the whole mental health issue and it’s treatability. I do understand as I have acted very irrational but so much was due to not sleeping for years mixed with severe depression.

I really hate to see this marriage of 20 years and friendship of 23 years end due to something I’m told is very controllable.

Any suggestions on what to say when we get together in a few weeks?

Any further details would glady be given at ei_beachouse@yahoo.com

Thanks,!

Best answer:

Answer by Peace
Let her know you realise where you went wrong. That your time spent away from her as been time you’ve been using to improve yourself. That you saught help for your problems, and ‘your ready to be the husband that she needs’ that you love her and your children and want to be in there lives and that your sorry and would like another chance. Tell her you understand this is a choice she has to make on her own and that you will give her as much time as she needs to think about it. That this doesn’t have to mean a divorce, and you’re willing to work through any unresolved problems.

Hope that helps.

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Question by Rei: Anxiety Sleep Disorder help?
I have a friend who has had a lot of troubles sleeping the last few days. It’s going on three days and she’s only gotten 4 hours of sleep. She says that her mind is constantly racing and she has problems calming herself down. I’ve recommended her seeing a doctor, but due to her parents loosing their jobs, they don’t have any current health care on her.

Is there a way she can take non-prescription medication? Anything really.

Best answer:

Answer by WESTSiiDE39
Over-the-counter sleeping pills like unisom.

You can get them at a drug store for a few bucks. I take em’ all the time, they really knock you out.

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